She didn’t have to worry much about fitness and health while growing up in Paso Robles. She played basketball (even at 5-foot-2) and tennis, and was always active. Then came her freshman year at the University of San Diego.

“I did what everyone did,” she says. “I put on a lot of weight.”

The stress, the late nights and all the available food took their toll, and she soon had to learn to exercise and eat right.

“Myself and everyone has faced at some point a relationship with food and exercise,” she says. “And then, at what age do we start to find a healthier balance? I think it wasn’t until I was 24, 25, I was like, ‘I get this one body. It’s not like a new car where I can exchange it. When the wheels fall off, I have this same body.’”

In the years since, Kimmel has made health a priority, not just in her personal life but as her profession.

She regularly runs (completing 11 marathons), does yoga, plays golf and walks (among other things) for her own health and stress-relief. It’s also a part of what she does as a coach, speaker, event leader and consultant for her business, Sheri Wellness Consulting.

She helps companies set up wellness plans, urging not just exercise and nutrition, but time off for stress relief, life balance and creativity. She also teaches a spin class, has been a running coach and is a brand ambassador for Lululemon and Fitbit. For Fitbit, she and Mike Sherbakov the past 3 1/2 years have led monthly meetups in San Diego that can range from hikes to group workouts.

She works long, busy days (and also volunteers with several organizations), but blocks out time for exercise. If you want to have a meeting with her, she might ask if you’d like to go for a walk (to talk).

“The joy of movement,” she says, talking about her motivation. “Exercise will make you happy, a natural high.”

Marathon woman

Kimmel’s 11 marathons include the Boston Marathon in 2014, a special one because it was the year after the bombings. These days, she’s focusing more on half marathons. She had set qualifying for Boston as a goal, and to achieve it made her proud. “Do something that scares you, right?” she says.

Weekly regimen

She teaches a spin class at “dawn o’clock” two days and runs three weekday mornings with friends, plus does a longer run on Saturdays. She also goes to yoga classes. She says getting regular exercise helps her focus and stamina gives her more patience and is a calming influence.

It’s not 100 percent, though. “Am I like that all the time?” she says, laughing. “No. Sometimes my husband says, ‘Go for a run. Have you gone to yoga today?’ But we try.” Exercise, she says, is terrific for the body and spirit. “Take more steps than you do pills,” she says.

Nutrition plan

“Diet is the way you eat,” she says. “A diet is just temporary.” She tries to be consistent, eating a lot of proteins and meats while eliminating carbs, sugars and eating in excess. She tries to be mindful of her food, with a lot of fresh ingredients. “What helps me sleep? What helps me feel good?” she says.

Career evolution

After college, Kimmel worked for a while doing a job she didn’t like. She was burned out after a few months and eventually fired, something for which she’s now grateful. When another job opened up in human resources/corporate wellness, she jumped at it. That eventually led to starting her own consulting business, tailoring it to her interests and strengths.

At one point, her boyfriend (now husband), said, “Well, you can’t just create your own job.” But she did, and with his support.

“You get one shot at this life, why not try?” she says. “And if I help people along the way, great.”